macmahon



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

'F.E.1VIAOMAHON 8: A. J. POSTANS;

- DRIVING GEAR FOR VELOGIPEDBS.

No. 588,684,. Patented Aug. 24, 1897. I (J 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

FE. MAOMAHON & A. J. POSTANS.

DRIVING GEAR FOR VELOGIPEDBS.

Patented Aug. 24,1897.

(N0 Model/x WITNESSES. INVENTORS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS EDWVARD MACMAHON AND ARTHUR JAMES POSTANS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

DRIVING-GEAR FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 588,684, dated August24, 1897.

Application filed November 16,1896. Serial No. 612,352. (Ne model.)Patented in England February 29,1896,No.4,576, and in France December18,1896,No.262,293.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS -EDWA RD MAOMAHON and ARTHUR JAMESPOS'IANS, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain; residing at London,in. the county of Middlesex, England, have invented a new and ImprovedDriving-Gear for Velocipedes, of which the following is a full andcomplete specification;

Letters Patent for this invention have been obtained in England, No.4,576, dated February 29, 1896, and in France, No. 262,293, datedDecember 18, 1896.

This invention relates to an improved drivin g-gear for imparting motionfrom the pedalcrank axles of velocipedes to the driving wheel or wheelsthereof; and it has for its object dispensing with the ordinary chaindriving-gear, which has many objections in actual use. 7 In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a broken View, in side elevation,showing the improved driving-gear applied to the drivingwheel of abicycle; and Fig. 2 is a broken view, in sectional plan, on line .2 ,2,Fig. 1. Similar parts are denoted by like letters of reference in bothviews.

In a convenient position in close proximity to the pedal-crank axleA-prefer'ably above it, as shown in the accompanying drawings is a shortaxle B, mounted in suitableballbearings 00, carried by the frame X ofthe ma chine. Motion is imparted to this secondary or intermediate axleB by means of a spur-wheel C and pinion O, the relative sizes 5' ofwhich are determined as'it is desired to The hubgear the driving-wheelup or down. E of the driving-wheel is fixed on an axle E, adapted to runin suitable bearings .90, carried by the lower members of the frame X ofthe 40 machine. Motion is imparted from the secondary or intermediateaxle B to the axle E of the driving-wheel by means of an axle F,extending between the ends of the axles B and E on one side of themachine and con- 5 nected thereto by short flexible shafts H.

The axle F is m'ounted'in suitable ball-bearings 00 carried by the-frameX of the machine and is preferably arranged to run in and be incloscd bya tube, such as G. The flexible shafts H are preferably inclosed insuitable cases Y, formed on or attached to the frame X of the machine toprotect them from dirt and dust. The flexible shafts preferably take theform of coil-springs, as shown, but any other type of flexible shaft maybe used, and they are connected to the ends of the respective axles inany convenient manner, such as that shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The advantages we gain by this system of driving are, first, enablingthe driving-wheel and pedal-crank axle to be mounted in the frame atfixed points with respect to each other, as there is no necessity toprovide for the adjustment of these parts with respect to one another;secondly, dispensing with the necessity for a dress or chain guard;thirdly, absence of noise or rattle; fourthly, obtaining a slight amountof elasticity between the pedal-crank axle and the driving-wheel, suchas is sought to be obtained by spring chainwheels, elasticdriving-wheels, and the like.

We wish it to be understood that the secondary axle B may be mounted inother positions with respect to the pedal-crank axle and that the shaftF may be arranged on whichever side of the machine is found mostconvenient.

We are aware that it is not new to utilize flexible shaft-s fortransmitting motion from one shaft toanother located at right angles toeach other, and we do not, therefore, claim such broadly; but

What we do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with a bicycle-frame X, two cases Y secured to the saidframe and provided with bearings 00 and at on one side and bearings 00on the other side of the said frame, and a tube Gr arranged concentricwith the bearings 00 and secured to the said cas ings; of a shaft Fpassing through the tube G and j ournaled in the bearings :0 a shaft Boperatively connected with the crank-axle and journaled in the bearingw, a shaft E 5 journaled in the bearing 00, a bicycle-wheel secured onthe shaft E, and flexible shafts connecting the respective ends of theshaft F with the shafts B and E, substantially as set forth.

FRANCIS EDWARD MAOMAHON.

- ARTHUR JAMES POSTANS.

Witnesses ROBERT PHILLIPS, ALFRED K. ORoAD.

